Dimitrios Houpis proposes ‘citizen-soldier’ military model in Prague

At the IISS Prague Defence Summit, Dimitrios Houpis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, presented a new strategic vision for military service titled ‘Agenda 2030’. The proposal centers on a ‘citizen-soldier’ (Oplitis-Politis) philosophy, which aims to redefine the relationship between the armed forces and society.

Houpis argued that the return of high-intensity warfare to Europe and rapid technological shifts necessitate a re-evaluation of mobilization models. He emphasized that a purely professional military cannot provide the scale of manpower required for conflicts lasting months or years. Under this new model, a distinction is made between professional forces, which are structured for high readiness and expeditionary operations, and conscripted/reserve forces, which are vital for territorial defense and rapid large-scale mobilization.

The strategy includes the ‘Active Voluntary Reserve’ and suggests basing conscript deployment on geographical origin to enhance local defense capabilities. Houpis noted that modern national security is no longer solely a military matter but requires a holistic approach involving infrastructure, technology, and societal preparedness.